Left or Right eye and both open?

Hello All.
New member here and loving the forum, there is so much helpful information.
Just got back into SLR photography, having previously used a Canon AE1 with a selection of lenses, then moved to simple digital snapshot photography for ease of use, I have now invested in a Canon 700D with the 18-135 IS lens.
Whilst playing around, it got me wondering as to which eye to use for the viewfinder and whether to keep the other eye open.
I find I can switch between either and keep both eyes open, but is this the way to go, or is there a better technique that helps stability when hand holding?

John

Which eye did you use with your AE1?

I'd say it's completely down to personal preference, no "right or wrong". My right eyelid is messed up and sits lower than my left, so it's much easier for me to see clearly through the viewfinder with my left eye. I also shoot a lot of motorsport and choose to keep my right eye open as well. This allows me to see the cars coming before they make it to the viewfinder.

Yup. Personal preference. I use my right eye but sometimes keep my left open if there is something else outside the frame I want to keep track of that I might want to recompose to include.

It's not common to keep both eyes open -- the view through your lens will be significantly different, depending on focal length, and likely give you a headache

For a 'normal' lens in a street-shooting environment I could see it being a valid technique.

I switch but right is a bit more common than left. I also always keep both eyes open just like when shooting (not camera).

*edit* this question would have worked better as a poll.

It is a 'personal preference', but the SLR body was designed for better usage with right eye at the viewfinder, allowing the left eye to peek around the pentaprism (Portrait orientation) or the shorter left side of the camera body (Landscape orientation) IF one wished to look.

It used to be that owner manuals illustrated proper camera holding techniques, back when SLRs were relatively new among amateur shooters

gjl711 wrote in post #17362251
I switch but right is a bit more common than left. I also always keep both eyes open just like when shooting (not camera).

*edit* this question would have worked better as a poll.

Same here. The only times I shoot with one eye closed is when I'm shooting up close or with a telephoto lens.

I mainly shoot with my left eye closed but if a lot is going on I shoot with both eyes open to have my peripheral vision to see what's going on

Whatever you are most comfortable with

Thanks for the replies everyone.
Looks like anything goes.

When I pick up a camera my natural inclination is to look through the viewfinder with my left eye. This has worked fine for me for as long as I can remember. But recently while shooting with a Canon Elan 7 I noticed that my face kept getting in the way when I tried to use my thumb to adjust things on the back of the camera. So I've been trying to switch to using my right eye - and finding it more difficult than I imagined! I find it a little easier when I keep the left open, but it still feels very awkward compared to using my left eye.

I normally keep my left eye closed. But when shooting distant wildlife I try to keep it open - it makes it easier to track moving birds and you can see what's happening outside the frame.

I'm strongly left eye dominant, if I try holding the viewfinder to my right eye I can barely track action or work the camera. So I use my left eye.

That means I nearly always keep the right eye closed, because the camera body blocks that eye. The only time I can use two eyes is when I use the 5D3 body vertically, holding it opposite from the illustration Wilt posted, keeping the shutter button down.

JeffreyG wrote in post #17363786
I'm strongly left eye dominant, if I try holding the viewfinder to my right eye I can barely track action or work the camera. So I use my left eye.

That means I nearly always keep the right eye closed, because the camera body blocks that eye. The only time I can use two eyes is when I use the 5D3 body vertically, holding it opposite from the illustration Wilt posted, keeping the shutter button down.

I am exactly the same as Jeffrey.

Im a bit weird, i mix it up a bit depending on what i am shooting.

Sports - right eye in VF, both eyes open (gotta be able to see as much as possible)
slow shutter speeds at night, left eye to VF, right eye closed (and the grip wedged into my collarbone, left arm supporting the lens, and right arm squished to my chest - can produce sharp pictures at 1/10sec with a 70-200 IS @200mm or 1/60 @400mm
i look like a weirdo doing it though.

with my Leica or X100 - right eye for landscape, left eye for portrait (camera rotated clockwise) "other" eye is half open.